Over the past four years, Bowdoin has quietly been developing an Environmental Management System (EMS)?a vehicle for communicating and consolidating efficiency efforts on campus.
Director of Environmental Studies DeWitt John, a member on the Environmental Action Committee, which oversees Bowdoin's EMS, explained that the organization "is a device that makes businesses and institutions regulate their own behavior."
"Key pieces are to set goals that are very specific and quantifiable, measure progress, commit to continuous improvement, and assign responsibility," he said.
Manager of Environmental Health and Safety Mark Fisher said that management systems "standardize the best management practices and address green issues. It's not only the right thing to do for the environment, but it's better for business, too."
"The goal is to make this a part of business and a way of life [at Bowdoin]," he added.
Bowdoin's EMS was prompted by Maine's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which was looking to implement pilot EMSs at smaller businesses and institutions like Bowdoin.
The DEP "helped walk us through the development process," said Fisher. "We were very fortunate and thankful to have their guidance."
Bowdoin's EMS has developed a series of Environmental Management Plans (EMPs) that state objectives, targets, actions and measurable goals called metrics, as well as who is responsible for implementing each plan.
The list of 20 EMPs?eight of which have achieved their proposed target?includes visible issues like solid waste, recyclables, and food supply and wastes that may be visible on campus, to issues such as air emissions, alternative fuels development, and green energy purchasing that may not be as noticeable to the Bowdoin community.
Fisher said that these 20 EMPs are "just a beginning."
Keisha Payson, coordinator of Sustainable Bowdoin, said that Bowdoin has already raised its rate of recycling from 20 percent of waste to 35 percent," she said.
"Maybe we can raise the goal to 50 percent," she said.
John added that he would like to see co-generation implemented on campus, a process that would not only produce heat for buildings, but allow Bowdoin to generate electricity on campus.
While the Environmental Action Committee has been developing Bowdoin's EMS over the last few years, the goal this semester is to make its presence known to the Bowdoin community.
"We want to encourage people with feedback to contact us," said Payson. "In the past, a lot of people have had no idea what Bowdoin is doing about hazardous waste or things like that. We want to be as transparent and open as we can be. It's important for the College."
Steven Kolberg '09, student member of the Environmental Action Committee, says that getting students to participate may be a tough task.
"There are so many socially responsible activities on campus?I fear the student population almost becomes jaded by all activities that deal with social issues. Part of my job is to work to get students more involved," he said.
The publicity campaign includes a more comprehensive and accessible Web site, which will list the EMPs, as well as a portal where people can directly send in their ideas to the Environmental Action Committee. Payson is also planning a public assembly in April during Earth Week, which will explain Bowdoin's EMS and foster discussion about the program.